Eutelsat W3B

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Eutelsat W3B
Start date October 28, 2010, 21:51 UTC
Launcher Ariane 5 ECA A V197
Launch site Kourou ELA-3
COSPAR-ID : 2010-056A
Takeoff mass 5370 kg
Dimensions 5.8 × 2 × 2.2 m
Span in orbit 34 m
Manufacturer Thales Alenia Space
Satellite bus Spacebus 4000 C3
lifespan planned 15 years
Stabilization triaxial
operator Eutelsat
Playback information
Transponder 53 Ku-Band and
3 Ka-Band
Others
Electrical power unknown
position
First position planned 16 ° east
Actual position GTO
List of geostationary satellites

Eutelsat W3B is a commercial communications satellite from the European company Eutelsat based in Paris .

It was launched on October 28, 2010 at 21:51 UTC with an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from the European rocket launch site Kourou, launch pad ELA 3, together with the Japanese satellite BSAT 3B in a geostationary transfer orbit between 249.2 and 35.907 km 2 ° orbit inclination brought to the equator .

The three-axis stabilized satellite is equipped with 53 Ku-band - and 3 Ka-band - transponders and was supposed to supply Europe and islands in the Indian Ocean with television and southern Africa with telecommunication services and internet from the position 16 ° East.

It was built on the basis of the Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C3 satellite bus and should have a planned service life of 15 years. Initially, its launch was planned in 2011 on a Chinese Long March 3 B, but was brought forward because of the failure of Eutelsat W2 . However, due to an earthquake at the manufacturing plant in Italy, components from the USA were also installed, which is why the satellite was no longer allowed to be launched on a Chinese launcher due to the US ITAR regulations .

Shortly after the launch of Kourou, a hole was found in the oxidizer system of the satellite drive . Eutelsat W3B should then immediately to burn up are brought, but what was not sure possible. The satellite is expected to remain in orbit for at least 20 years.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Chris Peat: EUTELSAT W3B - Orbit. In: Heavens Above. August 14, 2012, accessed August 17, 2012 .
  2. ↑ Ariane 5's latest success: W3B and BSAT-3b are orbited on the fourth Arianespace heavy-lift mission of 2010 . October 18, 2010, accessed October 31, 2010.
  3. ↑ Eutelsat awards W3C telecom satellite to Thales Alenia Space. In: ASDNews. Thales Alenia Space, March 23, 2009, accessed August 17, 2012 .
  4. ↑ Stephen Clark: Eutelsat swaps rockets for satellite launch this summer Date: February 19, 2010, Retrieved October 31, 2010 . Spaceflight Now
  5. ↑ Stephen Clark: Eutelsat declares craft total loss after propellant leak. Spaceflight Now, October 19, 2010, accessed October 31, 2010 .
  6. ↑ Thomas Weyrauch: W3B: Not even an interlude for Eutelsat. raumfahrer.net, November 1, 2010, accessed on August 17, 2012 .
  7. ↑ Rémy Decourt: Eutelsat W3B est devenu un objet inerte dans l'espace , Futura Espace, November 10, 2010 (French)